Spirit of Victory-Spanish American War Monument

This eye-​catching gorgeous monument sits in Bushnell Park. It depicts Nike, the winged Greek Goddess of victory, and is dedicated to the Hartford residents that served in the Spanish American War of 1898 – 99.
She is standing on an eagle-​shaped bow of a ship. Nike is quite the fashion plate — and she sure loves her fashion accessories. She’s wearing a helmet, a wind ruffled gown, and a sword hangs off her left hip. In her right hand she carries an overhead torch and in her left hand she carries a shield with the American Flag and Connecticut seal.
There is a sculpted military panel on each side of Nike –a rifleman and a sailor.
Below Nike is Spanish American War medallion. The statue’s base morphs into a stone bench on both sides of the statue, engraved with the words:
TO COMMEMORATE THE VALOR AND
PATRIOTISM OF THE HARTFORD MEN
WHO SERVED THEIR COUNTRY
IN THE WAR WITH SPAIN 1898
The engraving on the bench is badly soiled and worn out.
A plaque on the rear of the monument reads:
Erected by
The City Of Hartford
1927
Richard J. Kinsella-​Mayor
Norman C. Stevens-​Mayor
(8 Commissioners also named)